Vacuum clothes dryer with interior drum heater and vertical air ducts



VACUUM CLOTHES DRYER WITH INTERIOR DRUM HEATER AND VERTICAL AIR DUCTS Filed March 20, 1968 Feb. 4, 4 W LAMBERT United States Patent O Mice 3,425,136 VACUUM CLOTHES DRYER WITH INTERIOR DRUM HEATER AND VERTICAL AIR DUCTS Chandley W. Lambert, I.O. Box 56, Lake Dallas, Tex. 75065 Filed Mar. 20, 1968, Ser. No. 714,686 U.S. Cl. 34--92 Int. Cl. F26b 13/30 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to Patent No. 3,392,457 of July 16, 196.8.

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross section of said drum showing the relation of parts.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the heating unit in the bottom of said drum showing the general shape and relation of its parts.

The invention is a simplification and improvement of the former. The heating element is moved closer to the wet clothes and inside of the vacuum drum. The heat is radiated to the wet clothes through a double oor which spreads the radiation and prevents hot spots and possible over heating of the clothes. Vertical air conduits lead the warm air into the sides and center of the wet mass. This greatly shortens the drying time. The exterior heater box is not used and the air leak is is a more favorable location for close regulation.

Since the heater is inside of the vacuum drum, less power is required for the drying of the clothes and the process is more economical.

In the drawing, 1 is the cylindrical side of the drum, 2 is the curved top end, and 3 is the curved lower end of the drum. At 4 is secured a porcelain insulating block which hold-s the heater unit rod 5. Air is let into the drum at 6 from 7 and ow is regulated by adjusting screw 8 in block 9. The heater lead in wires pass through the air-tight insulator 10. The electric motor at 11 and suction pump 12 discharge air, water and water vapor at 13. These are drawn through the suction line 14 from the drum at suction port 15.

The air-tight cover 16 closes the drum. Vapor at 17 is drawn from the wet clothes 18. The hollow center post 19 has openings at 20 where warm air passes into the wet clothes.

The door 21 and perforations 22 allow passage of warm air to the wet clothes above. Spaced vertical air ducts 23 and openings 24 conduct the warm air to the wet clothes higher up.

The perforated lower floor 25 spreads the radiation from heater and forms a reservoir of warm air at 26. Some of the warm air passes up the side ducts at 27 and some up the center post at 28.

The control console at 29 has switches at 30 and is equipped with vacuum gauge, temperature gauge and a manually adjustable time switch for cycle duration. A

3,425,136 Patented Feb. 4, 1969 frame shown at 31 secures the machine at a convenient height above the floor.

The heating unit 4-5, insulator 10, and adjustable leak 6-7-8-9 are all secured to a removable plate 32, which is secured to curved end 3 of drum 1.

A center post 33 prevents floor sag from the weight of the clothes.

At 34 and 35 are shown extra vertical, hollow, perforated air ducts which are installed in the larger size dryer to lessen the mass of wet clothes in close contact and hasten the drying process.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the heating unit showing the heater rod 5 secured above the insulator blocks 4 4.

I claim:

1. A vacuum clothes dryer comprising, a cylindrical vacuum drum with curved end plates, a frame securing said drum at a convenient height, insulating blocks secured within said drum, an electrical heating unit secured to said blocks, lead-in wires connected to said heating unit, a pressure tight insulator guiding said wires through the lower plate of said drum, separated perforated oors secured in said drum above said heating unit, an air space formed between said oors, spaced vertical air ducts secured within said drum and connected to said air space, a hollow center post secured to said oors and connected to said air space, holes in said vertical air ducts and said center post conducting warm air from said air space into the mass of wet clothes, an electrical motor and suction pump taking air and water vapor from the upper part of said drum, and adjustable air leak allowing a continuous ilow of air into the bottom of said drum below said heating unit, an air-tight cover at the top of said drum, and a control console secured above said drum.

2. A vacuum clothes dryer as claimed in claim 1, and an opening in the lower curved end plate, a removable plate closing said opening, said pressure tight insulator secured into said removable plate, said adjustable air leak secured into said removable plate, said insulating blocks secured t0 said removable plate, and said heating unit and said blocks being removable from said drum by the removing of said removable plate from said opening.

3. A vacuum clothes dryer as claimed in claim 1, and an air space between said heating unit and said iloors, radiation from said heating unit heating the air above and around said heating unit, radiation from said heating unit heating the lower lloor in said drum and the interior of said drum, and a continuous ow of air moving upward-ly from said air leak into said warmed section and llowing into the wet clothes above said oors though the perforations in said oors and in said vertical air ducts and said center post.

4. A vacuum clothes dryer as claimed in claim 1 and a plurality of posts, similar to the said center post, conducting warm air into the wet mass of clothes above thereby distributing the warm air more evenly and hastening the drying process.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,574,298 ll/l96l Smith 34-44 2,777,313 l/l957 Dodge 34-92 3,050,975 8/ 1962 Pinder 34-92 3,308,553 3/1967 Lambert 34-92 WILLIAM I. WYE, Primary Examiner. 

